Category Archives: Malaysia News

How much have we achieved in the 46 years? We remain East and West, we remain Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazan. Are we one? Or are we just talk?’

For better or for worse, Happy Birthday Malaysia

Brij Jayaram Kathiravelu: Sabahans and Sawarakians best epitomise the very values we wish all Malaysians would. I feel sorry to read all the negative headlines from Borneo. They are laden with numerous issues including illegal immigrants, poverty and indigenous polarisation.

The BN federal government owes it to the East Malaysians to address all these issues as its very survival depends on East Malaysians. East Malaysians, please pressure your politicians to address all issues pertaining to your states. Selamat Hari Malaysia!

Lim Chong Leong: The divide-and-rule policy of the great BN … only to keep themselves in power and milk its citizens dry. How much have we achieved in the 46 years? We remain East and West, we remain Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazan. Are we one? Or are we just talk?

Kgen: Sabah is boiling, Sarawak is dissatisfied. Will they still vote obediently as BN’s fixed deposit of parliamentary seats? Now that there is an alternative, will they give Pakatan a chance or stick with the devil they know? You deserve the government you vote for.

Badrul Omar: 1Malaysia? Why do West Malaysians still need to pass through immigration when visiting Sabah or Sarawak and produce their MyKads or passports? Aren’t we in the same country?

Satria Asia: I’ve been to the other side of the South China Sea only once and that was so long ago. Speaking casually to some of the folks, I did feel some animosity towards the ‘west’ and wondered when some attempt at independence was going to take place.

But I guess for Sabah and Sarawak, joining Malaysia was a choice between two evils. Fortunately or unfortunately, they chose Malaya.

Gk: This article is a ‘wake-up’ call for BN government to be more ‘inclusive’. Malaysia Day should be the National Day, not Merdeka Day on Aug 31. Let’s celebrate Malaysia Day from now on.

Borneoman: I fully subscribe to the same view. Similarly the situation in Sarawak is exactly the same as Sabah. Many East Malaysians would agree that we were better off under the British than the “Malay” government.

At least under the British we had the best education in the region, an efficient mixed race civil service and an independent judiciary. And there never were any race or religious problems. So pray tell us why are we treated like second-class citizens? That’s why there is a general lack of interest to celebrate Merdeka Day here.

Gen2: Sabah is the poorest state despite its rich resources because its own leaders took care of themselves and their own pockets first rather than the rakyat. Don’t be too proud of your interracial tolerance because it won’t last long under the current BN government.

Citizen: Malaysia ‘truly Asia’ is found in Sabah not in West Malaysia. Years of racial politics have taken its toll, for West Malaysia too was like Sabah when I was young in the yesteryears. I hope Sabah will not fall into the same trap of racial and religious intolerance, now that race-based parties have entered Sabah.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has described the spirit of unity and harmony among the people of Sabah and Sarawak as a vibrant example of 1Malaysia.

He said that there were many examples in both states of how Malaysians of different racial, religious and ethnic roots “can come together around the many things that unite us, instead of allowing the few things that divide us to drive us apart.”

“The story of Sabah and Sarawak is the story of 1Malaysia, and has informed and inspired my commitment to this concept.

“They are a testament to the fact that our differences unite this country,” Najib said in his personal statement in conjunction with Malaysia Day today to commemorate the formation of Malaysia in 1963 by Sabah, Sarawak and the then Malaya.

Citing the Gawai celebrations in longhouses in Sarawak as an example, the prime minister said, he could not help but think that the people of Sarawak had already adopted the values of 1Malaysia “long before I explained its various elements.”

He said that this scenario had driven his commitment, and that he believed that it had an important and lasting impact on Malaysia’s development.

“Malaysians of any race or creed need simply look to Sabah and Sarawak to gain an understanding of the incredibly strong and harmonious unity that can be found in accepting and respecting the diversity of our nation,” he said.

On Sabah, he said, what impressed him the most was the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit among the people in their development of a thriving ecotourism industry, turning Sabah into a significant contributor to the nation’s economy.

He acknowledged however that the economic progress in the two states was being hampered by inadequate transportation networks, underfunded schools and insufficient provision of services.

That was why he extended federal government grants to local authorities in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

Najib also said that it was important for the government to provide the same opportunities to all and improve the lives of Malaysians regardless of race, religion “or the corner of Malaysia that they choose to call home.”

“In the end, whether we live in a remote longhouse or a high-rise in Kuala Lumpur, we are all Malaysians and we are all part of the 1Malaysia that we love,” he said.

In his blog http://www.1malaysia.com.my, Najib also recalls the time when his father Tun Abdul Razak witnessed the historic proclamation of Sabah’s independence in 1963.

Najib said he was 10 at that time “but I remember how proud he was during that momentous occasion. Sabah and Sarawak occupy a special place in my heart because of that history.”

He added that much of the country’s cultural heritage was tied to the icons of life in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Longhouses are as much a mainstay of life there as they are a symbol for our need as Malaysians to learn to live under one roof and to build up our national house together.

“When the sun rises over Malaysia, it shines first on Sabah and Sarawak. Our future as a country depends on our ability to work and live together,” the prime minister said.

As Malaysia commemorates its 46th anniversary, 15 indigenous Sarawakians have been detained by Kuching police for trying to send a memorandum of protest to the Sarawak Chief Minister.

Among those arrested are Mark Bujang (BRIMAS), Raymond Abin (BRIMAS) and Hellan Empaing (WADESA), all leaders of the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia) as well as representatives from the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities of Sarawak.

The contingent, consisting of 6 Penan, 4 Iban, 2 Kayan and 3 Kenyah are all representatives of communities who will be affected by two major dams which are being built in their areas. They had prepared a memorandum on the issue and were delivering it to Wisma Bapa Malaysia, the office of the Chief Minister. While waiting for endorsement of the document, they were arrested by local police. They are currently being held in the Kampung Gita Police Station in Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak. It is uncertain whether they are being charged, or what reasons are being given for their detention.

Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia strongly condemns the detention of its members who were attempting to deliver a memorandum on behalf of the indigenous peoples of the Baram and Murum areas of Sarawak. The memorandum protested the State Government’s actions to build hydro electric dams in these areas without the free, prior and informed consent of the communities affected and without due regards to the status of the native lands involved. The actions of the State Government are in clear contradiction to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Malaysia strongly supports.

We also condemn the use of arrest to intimidate and silence the voices of the communities who are questioning the construction of large dams on the area. This demonstrates the unwillingness of the State Government to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in projects that affect them.

We call upon the Sarawak State Government to immediately release all fifteen Sarawakians and engage in a proper consultative process with the affected communities. We also call for the respect of the constitutional native land rights of these communities. It is also in violation of the right to peaceful assembly, guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

KOTA KINABALU: A few years ago, the idea of a submarine housed in this state of Sabah, the northern part of Borneo Island, would have been just a dream.

But come Sept 17, that dream would turn into a reality as the nation’s first submarine, after crossing the South China Sea, will dock at its permanent berth at the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) base in Sepanggar Bay, the second largest after the Lumut base in Perak.

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I refer New Sabah Times news dated 14 Sept 2009. I dont see any assurance that this 3.4 billion sub will stop the infuxing illigal immigrant to Sabah waters. Unless this is yet proven, no use for Malaysia to buy such an expensive submarine where as this $$$ could be used on Sabah’s main road repair & construction especially for the interior road.

Sabah still needs extra RM10b for new roads

15th September, 2009RANAU: Sabah is still in need of an additional RM10 billion to upgrade and construct new roads, said Rural Development Minister, Datuk Ewon Ebin.He said although the federal government had approved RM4 billion for road construction and repairs in Sabah and Sarawak, the amount is far from sufficient.

“This is still not enough to meet the demand”, he said while acknowledging however that both the state and federal governments are committed in wanting to meet the people’s needs.

Speaking during a meeting with villagers of Kg Mansalu and Kg Tundagon here yesterday, Ewon stressed the need for better roads in the state for they form the basic channel for other types of development to be distributed particularly in the rural areas.

Also present were Ranau MP Datuk Siringan Gubat, Kundasang assemblyman Dr Joachim Gunsalam as well as state and federal government officers.

New Sabah Times dont simply publish a ‘feel good channel’ news for the people of Sabah.

Finally, it is officially confirmed – Penan girls in the interiors have been raped and sexually harassed by timber camp workers.

The story first broke in October last year when some Penan rape victims came to Kuala Lumpur in the company of a few women NGOs to seek redress for their plight.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations and the publicity around the issue, a special task force was set up on Oct 8, 2008 under the then Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Ng Yen Yen. The task force also included representatives from a number of other ministries.

I know for a fact that the task force did send a delegation to visit the Penan settlements to interview the rape victims. They were helped by the local NGOs, and did not encounter much problem during their investigation. A source reported that one female official was sobbing as she was taking down the testimony of the rape victims.

Then inspector-general of police Musa Hassan took a personal interest in the matter, and invited some Sarawak NGOs and their West Malaysian counterparts for a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 9 this year.

He subsequently instructed his men and women to work with the NGOs to probe into the rape allegations. Until today, the investigation has yet to made a single trip to interview the Penan victims in their villages. It is probably not high on their list of priorities.

Then silence reigned supreme. I had heard quite a while back that the task force report had been prepared and later approved by the cabinet, but somehow it was hidden deep in the bowels of bureaucratic officialdom.

Then a few days ago, PKR Wanita chief Zuraidah Kamaruddin and her team held a protest outside the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s office, demanding that the report be released. They were given a copy of the task force just like that, “Nah, ini dia!”

My communal blog ‘Hornbill Unleashed‘ uploaded the report on the same day, Sept 8, and it was quickly picked up by net news portals such as Malaysiakini. Three days later, it made frontpage headline in the Star, detailing all the horror the Penan women and girls had to suffer at the hands of the lecherous timber camp workers.

For once, I was pleased with and grateful to the Star, even if it is owned by MCA. I know its reporters have been under some pressure to step back a little from covering the unfolding events.

CM: Rape reports all ‘lies’

What has been the official response so far?

The Sarawak Woman and Family Council chairperson and Assistant Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department Fatimah Abdullah has refrained from giving comments until she has read all the reports and discussed with her council members.

She said there are different investigations by different groups with their own agenda, so she had to be careful.

She is amazingly simplistic of course, despite her long title. She could have easily read the task force’s report online. Besides, there has been no investigation at all by the police or any official authorities, except that which was conducted by the Woman, Family and Community Development.

When she talked about agenda, she was probably thinking of those NGOs and foreign instigators hiding behind every tree in Sarawak’s vast jungle.

Moreover, she did not express any concern for the Penan girls who were raped.

Fatimah is just a junior member of the Sarawak state government. Let us hear what the leading lights of the Sarawak administration have to say.

When the story broke last year, the Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud said the reports were nothing but “lies” and demanded that the newspapers corrected them. “Check your information or you will be suspected by the decent people of Sarawak of trying to sabotage us when we have toiled and developed our state,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, who is the chairperson of the steering committee on Penan Affairs, said that it would be a waste of time to investigate. He said: “I have not heard of such complaints from the Penan communal leaders in my many visits to Ulu Baram.”

Sarawak Rural Development Minister James Masing described the Penans as “good storytellers”.Then on Sept 8, the Sarawak CID chief senior assistant commissioner II Huzir Mohamad told the Star that unless the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry can furnish them with details such as names, place, and time, the police cannot do much investigation.

This really takes the cake. The police are paid by the taxpayers to investigate the reports of crimes. A year after the police reports had been lodged, they are still waiting for the ministry to do their police job. Talk about Little Napoleons!

Police the problem, not solution

Actually, the police are the problem, and not a solution to the problems faced by the Penans.

In the past, whenever the Penans put up blockades to stop the incursion into their ancestral land by logging and plantation companies, the police would come and arrest them and break up their blockades.

Without having read Karl Marx, the naturally wise Penans have long ago realised that the police are part of the superstructure of the state out to protect the interest of the capitalists. Whatever report they make to the police will be consistently ignored.

Even if a police team were to be sent to the Penan settlements to investigate the rape allegations, the Penans have such fear and suspicion for these officers of the law that they will run to hide in the forest.

The Penans will only trust those NGO activists who have been working for a long time with them, and for them. There is a coalition of 35 Malaysian NGOs actively agitating for justice for the Penan rape victims. Since last year, they have pledged their cooperation with the police to get to the bottom of the matter. Without their help, the police may as well give up on investigating the cases.

In the end, the police have not cooperated with the NGOs. They refused to accept the NGOs’ terms of reference, their itinerary, the mode of transport, and even the proposals as to where to meet the Penan rape victims.

The police are simply not culturally sensitive to the unique Penan way of doing things. To them, the Penans are the subaltern objects of administration, and not subjects like all other Malaysians whose life and personal security the police are paid to protect.

The Penans are a small community of about 12,000 people, living in the remote upper reaches of the Baram and Rejang rivers. The so-called “development” brought in by the logging and plantation industries have resulted in endless grief for the Penan, though the opening of the rainforests has brought immense wealth to a few politically-connected individuals.

Even as you read this, there are a few Penan blockades in the Baram region where they try to challenge the might of the bulldozers with their blow pipes and their bodies. In the Bakun area in upriver Rejang, some 3,000 Penans are suffering from an acute shortage of food because of failed crops and destruction of their food source in the jungle.

The rape of young Penan girls may still be going on.

Please do not for a moment think that the Penans are far away, out of sight, and therefore out of mind. They are like you and me, fellow Malaysian citizens who should benefit from the fruits of independence and development.

The rape of women anywhere is a hideous, heinous crime of violence. To appreciate the sorry plight of the Penan womenfolk, just ask this question to yourself: “How will I feel if my young daughters are raped by total strangers who happen to be driving their school buses?”